When Bookishly joined the UK’s first four-day week trial back in 2022, we didn’t know quite what to expect. Could a small creative business really do the same amount of work in less time? Would customers notice? Would the sky fall in on Wednesdays?
Three years on, we can safely say: it’s going great.
Our team works four days a week on full pay, and productivity has stayed exactly where it needs to be. Orders still go out on time, designs still get made, and the studio still hums with the same mix of creativity and chaos that makes Bookishly, well, Bookishly.
We take Wednesdays off, which means two mini two-day weeks instead of one long stretch. It’s amazing what that mid-week pause does for energy, perspective, and creativity. The reset breaks up the working rhythm just enough to make the rest of the week feel lighter.
It also means we can build flexibility around real lives. One of our team, a single parent, works five shorter days instead of four longer ones so he can do every school run. That kind of freedom and balance is exactly what this model is meant to create.
This October, I went to Parliament for an event hosted by the Four Day Week Foundation the same organisation that ran our initial trial. It brought together MPs, union leaders, and businesses who’ve made the switch, to discuss how the UK can move towards a national four-day week.
📷 I'm not difficult to spot!
Bookishly was also a signatory on the open letter to the government, alongside business and charity leaders across the country, calling for real policy progress. We were proud to add our name - not as a corporation with a PR department, but as a small independent business that’s living proof it can be done.
For us, the four-day week isn’t a perk. It’s part of what makes Bookishly sustainable - a company that values its people, not just its output. The extra rest means sharper focus, better ideas, and a healthier balance for everyone.
If you’ve ever wondered whether a shorter working week could work in your world - whether you run a bookshop, a creative studio, or just dream of having a little more time for yourself - we’re here to say it’s possible.
The future of work is shorter, smarter, and a little kinder. And we’re proud to be part of the evidence.
